Continuing our underlying theme that there is a great song writing scene on the UK’s south coast, the second edition of ‘Xan Phillips presents…‘ features south coast singer and songwriter Dave Pen.

He first came to my attention in the duo Birdpen, an act that is dark and inventive in the studio while on stage they stand out as totally professional unit, that produces a sound so large it fills every inch of available space in the venue.

Occasionally Dave would mention he was in a collective called ‘Archive‘ who were doing quite well in Europe. As my brief at the time focused on the south coast it took a while to investigate this strand of his career, especially as the albums were just available on the continent.

It was only when I bought Bridpen’s debut album from Amazon France did I realise how modest Dave had been as, on the cover, was a sticker proclaiming ‘On, Off, Safety, Danger’ featured ‘Dave Pen from Archive’

This success abroad was on the back of Archive’s albums ‘Lights’ & ‘Live at the Zenith’ just before Archive’s 2009 release ‘Controlling Crowds parts I-IV’ which is a double album of rare beauty.

Ironically it’s also the last recording they made under their deal with Warners who, for some inexplicable reason, have dropped the band just at the wrong time. It’s a bit like the Beatles being ditched after Sgt. Peppers.

Controlling Crowds will feature in later editions of ‘Xan Phillips presents…‘, however for this episode we concentrate on Birdpen’s debut album ‘On, Off, Safety, Danger’ and Archive’s ‘Live at the Zenith’ which the French Rolling Stone magazine stated was one of the best live recordings around.

We’ve also got more music from the UK’s south coast including our hottest export to Europe and America: Band of Skulls. Along with them you can investigate Betika, Boe Weaver, The Shanklin Freak Show, Big Num, Scarlett Soho and The Moulettes.

Xan Phillips presents is brought to you by Playdio.com and is currently available on Spotify.

If you are into metal and rock then the album ‘A State of Indifference’ by Bournemouth based ‘The Longest Day’ is the album for you.

Produced by Romesh Dodangoda (Motorhead, Funeral For A Friend, Kids in Glass Houses) and sleeve artwork by Marvel artist Boo Cook it has reviewers like Dorset Rock Online pondering whether they should: “draw comparisons to other unsigned local artists, or major label acts such as Silverchair, 30 Seconds to Mars and Muse.”

www.dorsetrockonline.com/?p=5415

Portsmouth group ‘The Visitors’ have released their second album
‘”Daylight Breaking” and it is an excellent follow-up to their debut  “Travelling”.
The songwriters Ross Murphy and James Dyer have evolved their sound
with a slightly heavier feel. www.the-visitors.co.uk

It is always nice to have your finger on the pulse and Dorset based ‘Moontown‘ seem to have placed theirs on the jugular.

The video for their latest release  ‘Step Aside‘ gives a humorous, yet poignant vision of the night life experience in virtually every UK city and town.

On the south coast it seems most prevalent in Southampton with the Daily Echo posting the story ‘On-spot fines for boozed-up ‘ladettes’ in Hampshire’ (14th August 2010). They report that…

“according to Inspector Phil Bates said: “I have been a police officer for 28 years and the number of women being out in public getting drunk has increased.

“The problem has grown. It’s not what I would consider epidemic or something that causes me huge alarm, but the fact it is increasing is something we need to address.”

The woman in this instance is singer Emma Friendship-Kilburn who’s drunken escapades are interupted by the straight faced Lyrical Agent who plays the sober side of everyone’s night out.

If this video stops people getting plastered any night of the week I’ll be surprised but, as a observation of a modern ‘good night out’ Moontown are spot on.